As the weather begins to warm up, some of the best hikes and outdoor adventures to take are ones involving water! Kayaking, swimming, and waterfall hikes are all amazing things to attempt in the PNW with all its natural beauty and clean water. Here are some of our favorite waterfall hikes!
Bridal Veil Falls: We’ve encountered this beautiful waterfall during a hike up to Lake Serene, and it’s an experience that we won’t forget anytime soon! The steep staircases leading up to the falls is a definite glutes workout, but the view is well worth it. You’ll have to take the Lake Serene Trail for 1.5 miles, then a sign will direct you to the falls. You’ll have the chance to feel the cool spray of the water and play in the pools at the bottom, or picnic around the corner if constant mist isn’t your thing. Heads up, the parking lot gets full extremely quickly (we arrived at 6:30 in the morning and it was already half full) and you will need a Northwest Forest Pass to access the park.
Franklin Falls: Franklin Falls is a great waterfall hike in spring, summer, autumn, and (with caution) in winter! This short hike (2 miles round trip) is well-maintained with a defined trail, stairs, and bridges making it a great activity for families or those just beginning their hiking adventures or starting to get into shape. There are parts of the trail with stairs and therefore moderate elevation gain, but most of the trail is pretty level, making it more of a walk or short excursion when it’s not muddy or icy than a hike. I’ve done this hike in both summer and winter and both times the waterfall did not disappoint! It’s an incredible sight in winter as large icicles frame the waterfall and is refreshing in summer as the mist sprays you once you reach the waterfall’s base.
Snoqualmie Falls: Like Franklin Falls, you don’t need to go far to look at Snoqualmie Falls. While you can walk down paved pathways to different viewpoints, there are concrete pathways leading immediately to a viewing spot from the parking lot. Snoqualmie Falls is a typical Washington tourist destination, so it does get busy, but it’s something you have to see at least once. It can also be really interesting to visit at different times of year and see how the flow varies (go after a storm or heavy rainfall for a really powerful waterfall!!). There is a gift shop and resort at the Falls too making it an option for a weekend getaway, event venue, or simple tourist stop on the way back from a longer hike.
Narada Falls: Located in Mount Rainier National Park, this wide 241ft waterfall is a great stop on the drive up to paradise point. Located just roadside, it’s easy to access and easy to find as well! With a well paved path and multiple viewpoints, it’s a great waterfall to visit with literally anybody, and is one of the thousands of amazing gems of the park.
Bonus pnw site Multnomah Falls: If you are ever driving down to Oregon, we highly recommend stopping by to visit Multnomah Falls. This iconic landmark stands at a total of 611 feet tall (the first tier is 542ft and the second tier is 69ft)! Blessed with an enormous parking lot and a variety of walkways and access points, it’s a lovely spot to break for a stretch during any road trip.